Multiple coin controlled mechanism



May 12, 1953 w. WELLSTEIN 2,633,198 MULTIPLE com CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 22. 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet l ?r""'.. :z- N; l ha 12131 y 1953 w. WELLSTEIN 2,638,198

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MULTIPLE COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 22, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 a y'58 i P i my! 3 \'I g z 1: m, W heim 96 Weustem m w M m-rromen/J May 12, 1953 w. WELLSTEIN 2,633,198

MULTIPLE com CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 22, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 F .Jo

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' MULTIPLE COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 22, 1947 a Shets-Sheet e Wilhelm Mellst'm'r May 12, 1953 w. WELLSTEIN 2,538,198

- MULTIPLE com CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 22. 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 r c ----36c 6 y. 58, GH :24 64- Wilhelm wellsi'ci r 414... 61; AU-Mvaldf.

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May 12, 1953 w. WELLSTEIN MULTIPLE COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Fild Oct. 22. 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 d ax O O .ET-T;E; -ror= Wilheim Wellstein M, a W! Patented May 12, 1953 MULTIPLE GOIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Wilhelm Wellstein, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 22, 1947, Serial No. 781,321

7 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to coin controlled devices and more specifically to a multiple coin controlled release mechanism which is well adapted for use in installations where purchase money, transportation fares, admission fees and the like must be collected without the personal supervision of an attendant or cashier.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a multiple coin controlled releasing mechanism which will be responsive to the depositing in any sequence of coinage aggregating a predetermined total value. This comprehends. responsiveness to the deposit of all possible combinations of coins in the denominational series falling within such predetermined total value.

Another object is to provide a multiple coin controlled mechanism of the character set forth and in which provision is made for adjustment to selectively establish the predetermined total value of coinage to which the device responds.

A further object is to provide a coin controlled mechanism of the above type wherein coins deposited in excess of the predetermined total value for which the mechanismhas been set will be immediately and automatically returned to the customer.

Still another object is to provide a coin controlled mechanism of the character set forth wherein coinage totaling to the predetermined value or to a lesser value may be returned at the option of the depositor at any time before he starts to claim his. purchase. A related object is to provide a mechanism of the above type wherein coins deposited prior to the deposit of a defective or spurious coin will be returnable, together with the defective coin.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the front portion of the cabinet of a vending machine in which the illustrative embodiment of the invention has been utilized, the coin controlled mechanism being shown in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the coin controlled mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of certain external members associated with the coin controlled mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view through thecoin mechanism 11- 2 lustrated in Fig. 1 and taken in the plane of the line 4-4.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken longitudinally throughone of the penny accumulating chutes and in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 5 but taken through another one of the penny accumulating chutes and in the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the nickel accumulating chute and in the plane of the line 1-! of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the dime accumulating chute and in the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the coin diverting gate of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 and taken in the plane of the line 9-9.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the coin return interlock of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 and taken in the plane of the line Ill-I0.

Fig. .11 is an end elevation of the penny director of the coin controlled mechanism embodying the invention and showing the relationship of such director to the weight biased dogs associated therewith.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the horizontally rockable floating lever and certain adjacent parts of the foregoing coin controlled mechanism.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged plan View of the coin actuated stop dogsassociated with the slidable master gate.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the mechanically coupled ,coin'diverters associated with the nickel and dime accumulating chutes.

Figs. 15 and 18, inclusive, are plan views of the slidable master gate in its various positions with respect to the coin accumulating chutes, the relative locations of the latter and the floating lever being indicated by dot dash lines.

Figs. 19 to 23, inclusive, are schematic line diagrams illustrating the relationship between the various step-by-step movements of the principal movable members comprising the coin counting means.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, a preferred embodiment'has been shown in the drawings and will be herein described in some detail, but it is to he understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, the intention being, on the contrary, to'cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and. scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been there illustrated in the form of a coin controlled release mechanism for a vending machine 2| although it will doubtless be apprec'iated'that the invention is susceptible of utilization in .many other applications. illustrative vending machine 2! is or" the type covered by Patent No. 2,425,870 to Charles H. Dixon, issued on August 19, 1947. Such a machine generally comprises a cabinet having a number of inclined chutes for storing articles of merchandise and loading the sameby gravity into a number of liftable delivery receptaclesaassociated'with the chutes. For regulating-the upward movements of-v the delivery receptacles, the same are equipped with individual guide rods 22 unitary therewith. The receptacles are normallyretained in a locked condition, such being accomplished bymeansof a cam shaft 24 having a series of axially spaced locking cams 25 adapted to engage respective locking grooves 26 in the guide rods 22. If, however; the shaft 24 be rotated through-a sufiicient angle the cams .25 will be swung =zclear of the locking grooves 26 and any selected delivery receptacle may then be elevated for removalaof a purchased article. The

lifting of more than one delivery receptacle at a time is effectively precludedv through the use or a ball interlock arrangement .28 associated with the rods -22, the details of the former being unimportant for present purposes.

Provision is made within the mechanism 2i! for accumulating depositedcoins until a predetermined total value thereofhas 'beenireached. This results in the closing of a switch -29 associated with the mechanism '26, the former in turn serving to energize an electrical control circuit which unlocks thearticle delivery receptacles for elevation of any selected one of the latter. Also associated with the mechanism-.28 is a solenoid 36 which is adapted to be energized by another circuit as an incident to :the elevation of such selected receptacle for 'delivery'ofa purchased article. By the. use of an appropriate connecting linkage between the movable core 3'! of the solenoid 30 and the mechanism 20, the

coinage accumulated therein is dropped into a coin box 32 as soon aS-the solenoid is energized. The latter becomes deenergized upon the return of theelevated delivery receptacle to its lowermost position.

GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF COIN CON- TROLLED RELEASE MECHANISM In the present instanca-the spective one of the coin slots. Closely associated with the lower ends of the entry chutes and arranged to receive coins from the same are a corresponding number of coin selector b, 35b and 3th. The latter merely serve to detect and retain defective or spurious coins such as magnetic slugs, eventually releasing and divertin them to a coin'return channel. The coin selectors may be of any well known construction and their details form no part of the present invention. Mounted in the frame 34 below the coin selectors and arranged to receive coins from respective ones of the same are a plurality of accumulating chutes 3502, 3503, 35c and 380. The first three of these comprise a triplicate assembly for holding coins of the lowest denomination in the series of coinage usable in the mechanism, such denomination in the present case constituting pennies. The remaining accumulating chutes 36c and 380 are designed for the two next higher denominations which in this case are nickels and dimes. For the twofold purpose of controlling the actuation of the releasing switch 29 and the transfer ofv coinage from the accumulating chutes to the coin box 32, a novel step-rby-step counting system is utilized. Such systemis, of course, responsive to the various combinations and sequences of coins deposited in the mechanism .26. Also incorporated into the latter is a manual coin return arrangement operable in response to the depression of a coin return plunger 353 mounted on the cabinet wall.

COKN ACCUIJULA'I'ING Nib ANS The coin accumulating means, shownin detail in Figs. 4 through 8, comprises-the accumulating chutes 35m, 3502, 3503, 36c and 380, already mentioned. The first three of these, being the penny chutes, are formed by a group of spacedapart, parallel plates it of shallow channel-like cross section stacked successively against a flat outside plate ti. Each of the three thin rectangular compartments defined by this arrangement is subdivided into a pair of branch chutes by means of a vertically disposed centraldividing partition 42.

In the present instance, the individual accumulating capacity of the chutes 3502 and 3503 is determined by certain coin-responsive devices and remains fixed at five pennies each. As indicated in Fig. 6, which is typical of both chutes, the first four pennies are directed into the left-hand branch chute, so as to fill the same. The topmost penny in'ithe latter branch chute cooperates with thedownwardly inclining upper end of the partition .42 to-cause the fifth penny to spill over into the second branch chute.

The accumulating capacity of'the chute 350i, like that of the other two penny chutes is also determined by certain coin-responsive devices. The chute 350% can, however, be adjusted for an accumulating'capacity of betweenone and four pennies. Such adjustment may conveniently be accomplished by the use of a hinged plate it (see Figs. 4 and 15 to 18) swingabiy mounted upon a vertical axis ashort distance from the plate constituting the chute side wall and biased into abutment therewith by appropriate resilient means. The plate ill is formed with a series of tapped holes 35 spaced at a vertical interval aproximately equal to the diameter of a penny. Stop screw dd may be selectively threaded into anynneof the tapped holes and allowed to proaect across the. first-branch or" the chute see! by registering with one of .arseries or vertically spaced hole 43 in the plate 40. In the illustrative mech-- anism, the screw 46 is located so as to p j through the lowermost of the holes 48 and into the chute 35c|, giving the latter a total capacity of four instead of five pennies. As indicated in Fig. 5, the first three pennies will fill up the first branch of the chute 35c| while the fourth penny will spill over into the second branch thereof.

For the purpose of channeling the proper num-- ber of pennies into each of the penny accumulating chutes, a penny director 49 is associated therewith. The director 49 comprises an L-shaped memberj-ournaled on a fixed support as'at 50 for limited rocking movement about a horizontal axis lying parallel with the general planes of the penny chutes 35c| 3502 and 35c3. One leg of the penny director extends horizontally so as to overlie the penny chutes, being formed with a funnel-like converging passageway which is adapted to receive pennies from the coin selector 35b and to guide them selectively into the underlying first branches of each of the penny accumulating chutes.

The nickel chute 36c is fashioned after the manner utilized in the construction of the penny chutes, being defined between a pair of spaceda art parallel plates 52. The space enclosed between the latter is divided into first and second branch chutes by mean of a vertical partition strip 5 2 similar to the strips 42. The accumulating capacity of the chute 360, like that of the penny accumulating chutes, is determined by appropriate coin actuated devices and while such capacity could theoretically be higher, the chute 350 is arranged to accumulate up to two nickels, one in each branch thereof. l

The dime chute 380, like the other chutes, is defined between a pair of spaced-apart parallel plates 55. However, the dime chute only has a single accumulating branch which lies between a relatively wide border strip 56 and an interrupted border strip 58.

As indicated in Fig. 4, all of the foregoing coin chutes are assembled as a rigid unit together with a pair of spacer blocks 59 and 66, such assembly being bodily installed in the box frame of the coin controlled mechanism 20.

Closure means for preventing the fiow of coins from the open bottom ends of the accumulating chutes is provided in the form of a master gate 6| which is retained in slidable abutment with the chute ends through the use of a pair of brackets 62 and 64 carried by the spacer block 59 and 6|). Upon closer inspection of Figs. 5 through 8 and through 18, it will be noted that the gate 6| is fashioned with a plurality of laterally projecting ears of various longitudinal dimensions and which serve as releasable stops for the coins in the overlying accumulating chutes.

COIN COUNTING SYSTEM It will be helpful to a clearer understanding of the counting system to point out that its ultimate function is the closing of the releasing switch 29 immediately upon the accumulation of coinage in an amount equal to the predetermined total value for which the mechanism has been conditioned to respond. Since such total may be reached by a number of coin combinations and subcombinations received in various sequences, a. multiple step arrangementis utilized for the counting of the coins prior to the actuation of the switch 29. Turning now to Figs. 1 to 3, it will be noted that the switch 29 is provided with a resilient actuating arm 65. Operatively associated with the switch arm 65 and adapted. to cam into engagement therewith is a control member in the form of an upstanding crank arm 66. The latter i keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to a rockshaft 68 journaled in spaced-apart brackets 69 carried by the frame 34 of the mechanism. A tensile spring 10 disposed between the frame 34 and a pin unitary with the crank arm 66 exerts a constant biasing force tending to cam the crank arm 66 and the switch arm 65 together so as to close the switch 29. Keyed or otherwise fixed to the rockshaft 68 at point intermediate the brackets 69 is another upstanding crank arm 1|, the uppermost end of ,the same being bifurcated and equipped with adjustable trunnions 12 for receiving therebetween a horizontally rockable floating lever 14. The point of support for the latter is at its approximate geometrical center, the trunnions 12 being adapted to permit sliding engagement between. themselves and a pair of concave recesses 15 formed in the sides of the lever. Pivotally attached to one end of the lever 14 as by means of a pin 16 is the horizontally projecting outer end of the slidable master gate 6| associated with the coin accumulating tubes. Pivotally attached as at 18 to the opposite end of the lever 14 is a simple twisted link 19 which connects the former with the depending extremity of the penny director 49. It will readily be appreciated upon more specific reference, to Figs. 1 to 3 and to Fig. 12 that the biasing force of the tensile sprin 10 will continuously tend to rock the crank arm I I toward the mechanism 2|]. By the same token, it will be appreciated that, any horizontal shifting tothe left (as viewed in Fig. 12) of either the slide 6| or the depending end of the penny director 49 will be accompanied by a corresponding increment of arcuate movement of the crank toward the mechanism 20. Coextensive with such movement of the crank H is an arcuate increment of movement of the crank arm 66 toward the switch closing position.

In the present instance the counting mechanism for the lever 1|, together with the rockshaft 68 and crank arm 56, must travel through three approximately equal steps or increments of arcuate movement in order to close the switch 29.

Such steps may be derived from corresponding.

increments of movement by the master gate 6| with the connection 18 between the floating lever 14 and the lower end of the penny director 49 serving as a fixed fulcrum. Conversely, these steps may be derived from corresponding increments of movement of the lower end of the penny director with the connecting point 16 between the lever 14 and the gate 6| serving as the fulcrum. Accordingly, there is provided means responsive to the presence of various coin combinations in the accumulating chutes for imparting step-bystep movements to the gate 6| and to the penny director 49.

, Considering first the penny director 49, it will be noted that the same is fashioned with an extending arm 8| substantially perpendicular to the plane thereof and projecting through one side of theframe 34 of the mechanism 20. 'Piv-otally,

carried by means of fixed supporting brackets 8| and located slightly below the arm 8|] are three lating chutes 350i, 3502, and 3503, the upper edges; of such slots serving to limit the tendency of the tail bars to swing upwardly under the action of Each of these dogs 7" the-dog biasing weights. With thisairahgem'ent, the interception by the respective taubars' of coins in the penny chutes serves to successively disengage the dogs 82, 83 and 84 from thearm 8'8, thus permitting the penny director l to swing through three successive increments of movement.

Turning now to the slidable master gate ti (ra for to Figs. l and 13), a pair of successively engageable, weighted stop dogs 85 and- 85 are associated therewith. These dogs are fashioned with relatively short tail bars extending transversely across the nickel accumulating chute 36c and through slots in the side wall 52 thereof. As the tail bars are depressed successively by the interception of coins in the nickel chute, the stop-dog's 85- and B6 are successively lifted out of engagement with the ahutments' of the gate 61, thus providing two increments of sliding movement for the latter. Closely associated with the nickel dogs -85 and 85 is a simple pivotal lever 88, one

arm of which constitutes a tail bar and extends across the dime accumulating chute 320. The depression of this bar results in the simultaneous disengagement of both dogs 85 and kit, thus creating an alternative means of obtaining the movement increments otherwise obtainable with the nickel dogs is and actuated separately. It might be notedin passing that the extreme lefth-a-nd limit of sliding movement of the master gate 61 is determined by abutment between a depending pin '89 thereon and the right-hand edge of the supporting bracket In order that coinage deposit-ed in the meclw anism 23 may be accumulated in workable comhina'tions, there is operatively associated with the st'ep-by-step countin system a coin divertin'gdevice for each of the accumulating chutes. Thus the diversion of coins from the penny accumulating chutes, required for example when the'passage 55 of the penny director 59 is out of registration with such chutes, is accomplished by the use or a downwardly inclined, wedge-shaped lug 9S unitary with the leg of the director is overlying the chutes Figs. 2,v 4 and ll); The sloping surface of the lug Sii, and which maybe somewhat concave, serves to direct coins from the coin selector b toa' spilling chute 9!. The latter drops them down along the front or" the mechanism 2s andinto a dumping chamber $2, shown in detail in Fig. 9. This chamber can be arranged for communication with either the coin return tray EM of the mechanism 2t or the coin box 32 thereof, depending upon the position of a swingable dump ing gate The latter occupies a normally open position with respect to the coin return tray 94, thus allowing diverted coins to'pass'froin the dumping chamber 92' to the tray at for re disengaged position with respect to the coin chutes by means of a coil spring i s t. Unitary with the arm 9% is 2. depending finger m5 adapted-to 'engage'an abutment on the slidablc mas ter gate 6!.

Engagement between" these parts will occur"as'an incident to the leftward sliding movement of the gate 6|, rocking the levers 9B and 98 against the action of the spring [M and bringing the bent over portions tilt, it! and SM into registration with appropriate slots I06 in the side walls of the chutes 35c and. 380. Coins diverted from these chutes are spilled laterall y out of the same, thence dropping into the dumping chamber 92 and passing from there to thecoinreturn tray 9 3.

COIN RETURN MEANS From the time-a customer deposits his first coin in-the'me'chanism 28 up to the time he lifts dispensingreceptacle to claim his purc a return of the deposited coins can be had by simply depressing the coin return plunger 39. Even in the-event that the normal depositing of coins is-interrupted by the deposit of a spurious coin,-

a return of any and all coins so deposited can still be had. Thus there is provided a coin return lever it? carried by a rockshaft tile journaled at the top of the frame (it of the mechanism 23 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4). The upper end of the lever ml extends into the path of the coin return plunger 38 for actuation thereby. opposite endof the lever iill has dependably connected thereto a tension rod its which, in turn, is connected with-a moderate amount or" lost mo- 2 tion to a crank arm lidrigidly attached to the rockshaft 63. By the-use of the foregoing ar-' rangement, depression of the plunger 3% serves to rotate the rockshaft 63 counterclockwise through the necessary angle to disengage the switch actuating crank arm thus insuring that the releasing switch 23 remain open. at the same time, the rockshaft 63 through the crank arm H and the floating lever it serves to draw the slidahle master gate St to its extreme out- Ward position (see Fig. 18). This opens all the coin accumulating chutes and any coins previously stored therein consequently drop into the dumping chamber 92. Since the dumping gate at at thistime will not block off the chamber as from the coinreturn tray 9%, the coins dropped from the chutes willbe directed into the tray.

Rigidly secured to'the rockshaft Hi3 and movable therewith are axially spaced wiping arms Iii, each of the latter being adapted to strip magnetic slugs and the like from respective ones of the coinselectors 35a, Sta and 38a. Material of this sort, which is stripped when the plunger 39 is depressed, is spilled'int'o the dumping chamber '32 along with the other coins being returned.

In order to preventan individual with fraudulent intentfrom securing a return of his purchase money after the mechanism 28 has tin-- locked the machine 2i and steps have been taken to claim the purchase, an effective interlock is interposed between the unlocking mechanism of the machine 2 I and the coin return linkage. (Refcrto Figs. 1 and 10.) Thus the locking cam shaft 2t is provided with a large segmental cam H2" with a large abrupt shoulder i is in its contour. A rocker arm liehaving a perpendicular leg H3 atone end mounted on a fixed supporting bracket ina manner which permits the legllt toride'along the shoulder ti l-when the sh'af t 12- 1 is' in the locking position. The opposite end of the arm i this; of course, pivotaily coupled to the coin return lever it? bylneans of an adjustab'le'l'ink I it. Withthis construction, it will be appreciated that when the shaft 2 to its un-lo'ckedposition, the curved portion of the cam li-2wi1l ride over-the leg-I l6, preventing The the rocking of the arm H and effectively looking out the coin return plunger 39.

OPERATION AT FIXED..PREDETER1VIINED TOTAL VALUE ((1) Combination all in pennies The coins will travel from the penny slot 35 via the entry chute 35a and coin selector 35b to the funnel-like passage ill of the penny director 49. Assume that all the coin accumulating chutes are empty and that their lower ends are blocked off by the master gate 6!. Under such conditions, the arm Bil of the penny director will be in abutment with the highest stop dog 82 and the passage ill will register with the innermost penny accumulating chute 35cl admitting coins thereinto. The first three pennies will then fill up the first branch of the chute 350! (see Fig. 5), with the fourth penny spilling over into the second branch of the chute. As the fourth penny descends, it depresses the tail bar of the stop dog 82, swinging the latter out of abutment with the arm 80 and allowing the penny director to rock through a small arc until the arm 80 is accosted by the next highest stop dog 83. This are is represented by the distance ab in Fig. 19, constituting the first increment of step-by-step movement of the depending end. of the penny director 49. As an incident to such movement, the floating lever I l will fulcrum on the master gate as at point e, moving from a full line position ae to the first broken line position b--e. Consequently, the upstanding crank arm H, the rockshaft 68, and the crank arm 66, are likewise rocked through the first of the three steps of arcuate movement required to close the releasing switch 29.

Having moved through the step described above, the penny director 49 has brought its passage 5| into registration with the next penny accumulating chute 35c2, admitting coins into the same. The first four pennies will fill the first branch of the chute, the fifth coin spilling over into the second branch thereof and depressing the tail bar of the stop dog 83. This serves to increment designated bc in Fig. 19, also shifting the floating lever Hi from position b-e to position c--e. This shift results in moving the crank arms H and 66, together with their rockshaft 68, through the second step of arcuate movement toward the closing point for the switch 29.

At this point, the passage 5| has been brought intoregistration with the third penny accumulating chute 3503 which receives the last five pennies of the fourteen cent combination. The fifth penny to enter this chute depresses the tail bar of the last dog 84 after the manner described in connection with the other dogs. The depending end of the penny director is accordingly shifted through its third and last step, indicated at cd in Fig. 19. By the same token, the floating lever 74 is shifted from the position c--e to the position de, simultaneously rotating the crank arm assembly and its rockshaft 68 through the third and last. increment of arcuate movement. As a result, the crank arm 66 cams against the resilient actuating arm 65, closing the switch 29 and releasing the locking mechanism of the vending machine 2 I.

Under the foregoing circumstances, the deposited coinage, which totals fourteen cents, is retained in the coin accumulating chutes by the master gate 6!, the latter occupying the relative position illustrated in Fig. 15. However, as soon as the customer elevates a delivery receptacle of the vending machineZI to claim his purchase, an appropriate electrical circuit is completedand energizes the solenoid 3D. This immediately results in the raising of the movable core 3| and the mechanical linkage (see Figs. 1 and 3) associated therewith, comprising a depending rod H9 adapted to lift actuating lever I20 of the coin dumping gate '95. The latter when so lifted swings the gate to the broken line position shown in Fig. 9, blocking off the coin return tray and permitting communication. between the dumping chamber 92 and the coin box 32. The lever 12m whenlifted also serves to engage a crank arm I2! keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the rockshaft *68. Consequently, the shaft 6 8 is rotated against the force of the spring To and counterclockwise as viewed from Fig. 3 to its extreme position, moving with it the upstanding crank arm I I, the floating lever 14, the depending end of the penny director 49, and the master gate 6!. This brings the lever 14 to the position indicated by the broken line :cy in Fig. 23 and at the same time moves the lower end of the penny director hard against its adjustable stop pin (see Fig. 2). By the same token, the slidable master gate 6| is shifted from the position of Fig. 15 to that of Fig. 18, wherein an upstanding stop pin I22 on the gate t! limits the latters travel by engaging a finger I24 unitary with the swingable plate M and forcing such finger against the wall of the nearest coin chute. The stop screw 45 is also swung clear of the coin chute 350! in the process. When the gate Bl has reached the position shown in Fig. 18, its obstructing abutments have been moved clear of all coin accumulating chutes, dropping the coins therefrom into the dumping chamber 82 from which they pass into the coin box 32. As soon as the customer has claimed his purchase and allowed the delivery receptacle to return to its original position, the solenoid 30 becomes deenergized and allows the spring Hi to restore the counting mechanism to its initial condition for a repetition of the operating cycle.

(1)) Combination of two nickels and four pennies Assume now that the coin accumulating chutes are empty and that a nickel is deposited. The coin will enter the first branch of the nickel accumulating chute 360 where it will immediately depress the tail bar of the dog 85 (see Figs. 4 and .7); This will permit the master gate 6| to pass through the first increment of its step-by-step movement to occupy the position shown in Fig. 16, such movement being represented by the distance ein Fig. 20.. The floating lever 14 is also permitted to move through the first of its three switch closing steps to occupy the position a -j. Due to the engagement between thegate i1 ti and the depending finger E65: oi' th'e nickel diverter Scythe first branch of the chute siic'is new blocked off; A second nickel deposited at this point will spill over into the second branch of the chute 36c, releasing the second nickel dog 88- and allowing the master gate 6! to slide through its second step fgto the position-indicated in Fig. 17. The lever-M likewise passes through its second increment of switch closin'g movement to the position a-g of Fig. 201' Under these conditions, the coin idiverters block off completely the nickel chute 35c and the; dime chute 35c, any subsequentlydeposited niclzels or dimes being spilled by the diverters 96 and 88 into the coin returntray. If the four pennies required to complete the above combination be deposited, the

last coin will serve to initiate movement of the penny director through the first step (L-b after the manner already described, thus shifting the lever it through its third and last step to the position designated by the line b+g in Fig. 20. As a result, the switch 28 is energized, the accumulated coinsare subsequently dumped into the coin box 52, and the counting mechanism-returns to initial position'all as heretofore explained.

(c) Combination of nine pennies and one nickel Inrthe light of the foregoing, a detailed discussion of the operation of the counting mech- Cd) Onedz'me and four pennies In responsetto, this combination, the counting mechanism: behaves inla 'manner :very similar to: that. employed.inrconnection withzcombination.(b) supra; the deposit-offer dime merely serving toperform' both nickel steps at thesame time-rdue to" the 'simultaneous release of both nickel dogslliand. 85 by depression of the" tail bar 83. The sequence of steps is illustrated in Fig; 22, differing from that shown in Fig. only to the extent that the gate 6 l shifts through the distance e--g in a single-move rather than two successive ones:

OPERATION AT VARIOUS PREDETERM'INED TOTAL .VAUIJ'ESlv 7 As mentioned earlier in the specification, the mechanism ZOmay be readily conditioned for response to the deposit of any combination of coins having any selected predetermined total value between one. and fourteen cents. The operation of the mechanism at these various values, together with the adjustments involved in con- 'ditioning the latter to respond tov such values, will lee discussed briefly; below.

(a) Values from eleven to fourteen cents By locating the stop screw 46 in selected ones of the tapped holesin the swingable stop plate 44, thev effective storage capacity of the first penny accumulating. chute c! may be altered to accommodate one, two, three, or four coins.

12 The step-by-"step operation" or the mechanism remains identical with. that already; described.

(I?) Value of ten cents This necessitates making the first penny accumulating chute .35cl inactive, which can be readily done by securing the highest. weighted dog 82.; in: a disengaged position through the use of a retainer spring" I21. The; step-by-step operation .of the mechanism. remains .unchanged except for. the factthat the latter behaves as if the first.stepofxmovement of the. penny director l9 had. already been completed.

(0) Values ofsia: to nine cents In this instancathe firstnickel dog and the dime dog lever 88 are removed or rendered inactive; The vmaster gate 5! will then assume aniinitial position fata point. where" its first step ofsliding movement has been completed. Any dimesthen deposited will be returned by the diverter: so, while the first nickel deposited will be soiclirected by'the nickel diverter 96 that suchrcoin actuates :the. second. nickel dog 86. Additional nickels then deposited will. be returned; The: penny chutes are conditioned by suitable positioning of stop screws ie on the plate. 44 to vary thestorage capacity of the first accumulating chute 3501. By latching up the middle dograil; the penny distributor may be causedito. shift directly from. chutettcl, to 3503. Under the foregoing tconditionathe switch 29 is.-closedby ,two'steps of movement orthe lever 14 and the parts. associated therewith.

(d') Value. of five cents As in thecaseof (c), the" first nickel dog 65 and the dime dog lever 88- are removed orrendered inactive; initially positioningmastergate 6i asif it had completed its firststep of sliding movement. In addition, both penny dogs 82 and Marc latched in. the disengaged condition, renderingvthexfirst twopenny accumulating chutes 350i and. 3502. inefiectivenandi positioning. the pennwdirector asif; it. had completed two'incrementsrof .movement- With such an. arrangement,-. the. depositing of. a nickel willserve to move the lever i4 through the one remaining step required to closethe switch 29.-

(e) Values from one to four cents Int thisinstance, both nickel dogs 85* and 86 are removed or renderedinactive. and two penny dogs 82: and 83 areretained in the disengaged position -The first penny accumulating chute .3501. will bethe only active one'anol its capacity may be: altered by adjusting the position of the stop screw 46 on the plate 44-. Uponthefilling of the-penny chute $50!, the lever will shift through its-three switch closing steps in a single move. Any'nickels, dimes, or. excess pennies deposited. with themechani-sm as thus setup will be. returned.

(f) Other values While the. embodiment ofthe mechanism described heretofore has been designed to handle pennies, nickelsand dimes, the device could just as-easily handle a series-of. coins of higher denomination such as nickels, quarters and half dollars? I claim:

7 1. Ina'multiplewcoin controlled release mechanism for vending machines and the like, the combination comprising a .fra1ne;,aplurality of coin accumulating chutes fixed to said frame and adapted to receive coins of difi'erent denominations, each of said accumulating chutes except the one for the highest denomination coin having partition means therein dividing the chute into first and second branch chutes and arranged for the automatic diversion into the second branch chute of the last of a predetermined series of coins to enter the accumulating chute, a plurality of coin dogs pivoted on said frame, certain of said dogs having actuating means operatively associated therewith and extending into operative relation with said highest denomination accumulating chute for tripping said certain dogs in response to the depositing of a coin in said last mentioned chute, some of said dogs having means thereon extending into operative relation torespective ones of said sec ond branch chutes to be tripped by coins received therein, a step-by-step coin counting mechanism including a floating lever having retaining means thereon disposed for engagement by said dogs, means on said lever for bodily moving the latter through a cumulative series of steps relative to said frame as respective ones of said coin dogs are tripped, a releasing switch, and switch actuating means connected to said lever for closing said switch in response to the bodily movement of said floating lever as the latter passes through the last of the cumulative series of steps.

2. In a multiple coin controlled release mechanism for vending machines and the like, the combination of a frame, a plurality of coin accumulating chutes fixed to said frame including a series of chutes fashioned to receive coins of the lowest denomination and at least one additional chute fashioned to receive coins of higher denomination, each of said accumulating chutes except the one for the highest denomination coin having partition means therein dividing the chute into first and second branch chutes and a passage between the branch chutes for the automatic diversion into the second branch chute of the last of a predetermined series of coins to enter the accumulating chute, a plurality of coin dog's pivoted on said frame, actuating means operatively associated with said highest denomination accumulating chute and at least one of said dogs for tripping the latter in response to the dropping of a coin into said last mentioned chute, a number of said dogs having coin responsive tripping means thereon extending into operative relation with respective ones of said second branch chutes, a slidable master gate disposed in abutment with the lower ends of said accumulating chutes and adapted to block off the latter, a rockable coin director pivoted on said frame and including a coin guide overlying said series of accumulating chutes for the lowest denomination coin, said coin director being shiftable in steps in response to the tripping of the remaining of said coin dogs, a floating lever pivotally connected at its respective extremities to said master gate and to said coin director, both of the latter being adapted to serve as shiftable iulcrums for said lever, biasing means interconnected with said gate and with said coin director for exerting biasing forces thereon, the ones of said dogs associated with said series of lowest denomination chutes being removably engagable with said director and the remainder of said dogs associated with said chutes other than those of said series being removably engageable with said gate, and means including a rockable control member connected to said. floating lever intermediate the extremities thereof and movable therewith as an incident to tripping of various ones of said dogs, a releasing'device, and actuating means on said control member for actuating said releasing device upon movement of said control member.

3. In a multiple coin controlled release mechanism for vending machines and the like, the combination of a frame, a plurality of coin ac-' cumulating chutes fixed to said frame and including a series of chutes for receiving pennies and at least one additional chute for receiving coins of larger denomination, a plurality of coin dogs pivoted relative to said frame and disposed in projecting relation with said accumulating chutes for pennies, adjustable stop means interengageable with one of said penny accumulating chutes for varying the capacity thereof from one to four pennies as determined by the setting of said adjustable stop means, means interconnecting said dogs with said penny chutes for effecting the tripping of said coin dogs in response to the filling of said respective penny ac cumulating chutes to capacity, dogs operatively associated with said accumulating chutes other than said penny chutes, a releasing device, and counting means interengageable with said dogs for actuating said releasing device in response to the tripping of any combination or various ones of said dogs corresponding to' a predetermined total value of coins,

4. In a vending machine, the combination of withdrawable article delivery means, a segmental cam pivotally mounted on. said article delivery means, a locking device connected to said cam and extending into interengagement with said article delivery means for positively inducing 131V- otal movement of said cam upon attempted. movement of said article delivery means, a multiple coin controlled release mechanism interconnected with said vending machine, a coin return mechanism on said coin controlled release mechanism, a coin return lever pivotally mounted on said ma chine and interconnected with said coin return. mechanism, actuating means connected to said lever and operable from the exterior of said machine, a link pivotally connected at one end to said coin return lever, a rocker arm swivelly attached to the opposite end of said link and pivotally attached to said machine about an axis substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of said cam, and a leg unitary with said rocker arm and extending substantially parallel to the pivotal axis thereof for blocking rotation of said cam and thereby locking said article delivery means as an incident to actuation of said coin return lever, said locking device serving as an incident to actuation or" said article delivery means to rotate said cam into motion-blocking relation to said leg, thus precluding actuation of said coin return lever.

5. In a multiple coin controlled release mechanism for unlocking a vending machine or the like upon the deposit therein of coinage, the combination comprising a plurality of coin accumulating chutes fashioned to receive coinage of various I denominations, means overlying said accumulating chutes for channeling deposited coins therein, a floating member shiftably disposed in proximate relation to said chutes for incremental movement in a given direction, biasing means for urging said floating member in said given direction, an unlocking control member operatively associated with said floating member for actuation thereby 6 d aimuitiple coin contralied release mecha nism respcnsiize to the deposit therein of coinage aggregatnga predeter fined-total. value, the combination er a plurality of coin accumulating chutes fashioned to receive coinage of different denominations-and defining discharge ends thereon, adjusting means ,interengageable with certain ones of, said accumulating chutes to selectively varythe coin accumulating capacity thereof, a movable ccin entry director having a portion dispcsedin overlying relation with certain ones of said accumulatingchutes, interconnecting means oneratively associated with said certain ones of accumulating chutes. and said director for conditioningthe latter for shifting movement to sucseeding ones of said last mentioned chutes in re- Spunseto-,thctrcflcipt of coin therein, a movable gate disposed in proximity to said discharge ends of said accumulating chutes and adapted norrnallyto obstruct the same, a floating lever having one. end connected to said coin director and the other end connected to said gate, an unlock:- ing control member susceptible of actuation by said floating lever and connected thereto intermediate the ends thereof, biasing means interconnected with said control member, a plurality of sequentially releasable coindogs each having a portion. projecting into one 01 said accumulating chutes other than said certain ones thereof and another portion engageable with said gate, lneans associated with said dogs and providing for selective, inactivation thereof tovary the predetermined total value of coinage to which said mechanism, isresponsive, and a. plurality of movable coin deflectors associated with respective ones of said chutes and disposed for ,interceptioniof coins entering thereinto, all butone of said deflectors having an operable connection'withsaid gate, the remaining one of said deflectors having an operable connection with saidcoindirector;

7. In amultiple coincontrolled releasemechanism of the characterset forth, the combinetion'of a plurality of coin accumulating chutes, a slidable. gate disposed in underlying relation with said chutes for retaining coins therein, a rockable coin director associated with certain one of said chutes and adapted to channel coins thereinto, a floating lever connected at its extremities tosaid .slidable gatev and to said coin director, said lever being adapted to fulcrum on either said gate. or said coin. director, means including a control member and a biasing member connected to said .iloating lever intermediate the ends thereof, and aplurality of sequentially releasable coin actuated dogs each having a portion projecting intoan associated one ,of said accumulating chutes other than said certain ones thereof and another portion ,engageable with said gate, another plurality of. coin actuateddogseach having a portion thereof projecting into anassociated one ofsaidcertain chutes and another portion thereof engageable with said coin director, said dogs being adapted to release said gate and said coin director with selective step-by-step movements under the action of said biasing member, each of said step-by-step movements producing a substantially equal increment of movement of said control member regardless of whether said lever fulcrums on said gate or on said coin director.

WILHELM WELLSTEIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,451,787 Shultz Apr. 1'1, 1,92 3 ltd-4,067 Malkin Oct; 4', 192-7 1,737,422 Hulme; Nov. 26,1929 2,279,664 Du 'Greniier Apr. 14, 1942 2,320,378 Neidig June 1, 1943 2,333,176 Hoban i Nov. 2, 1943 2,323,981 Du Grenier July 13, 1943 

